Knock down furniture assembly



Nov. 19, 1957 N. MAYER KNOCK DOWN FURNITURE ASSEMBLY Filed D80. 15, 1954 INVENTOR. Mar/m xtmyzk ATTORNEY United States PatentO KNOCK DOWN FURNITURE ASSEMBLY Nathan Mayer, New York, N. Y.

Application December 15, 1954, Serial N 0. 475,515

1 Claim. (Cl. 155-196) individual leg sections by nuts, bolts and similar fixtures.

The thus assembled three part unit, which normally takes up a comparatively large amount of space may be dismantled for storage and collapsed into a relatively small unit for shipment. Knock down for shipment materially decreases shipping costs. To facilitate such assembly and dismantling of the units, manufacturers frequently package appropriate tools with the prefabricated parts, which tools are employed in making the required mechanical connections. Whether supplied by the manufacturer or not, the need for such tools and/ or the need for separate fixtures in achieving assembly, generally detracts from saleability. 'It is not infrequent that the assembly fixtures and parts get lost or the consumer experiences difficulty in effecting even the most simple mechanical assemblies. Thus, as a practical matter, utter simplicity is a keynote to saleability and widespread consumeracceptance for readily dismantled articles of furniture.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a multiple-part knock down assembly, particularly suited to the manufacture of a variety of articles of furniture which obviates one or more of the aforesaid difficulties. Specifically, it is Within the contemplation of the invention to provide a knock down furniture assembly which is integrally constructed and arranged such that fabrication may be achieved simply, with ordinary skill and without the need for attachment fixtures and assembly tools.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide multiple-part knock down furniture assemblies for prefabricating chairs, tables and the like, which assemblies when joined together exhibit mechanical strength and rigidity and are compatible with ornamental and aesthetic requirements.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a multiple part prefabricated unit which may be readily assembled into a comm-on household article of furniture, yet easily dismantled into a compact package for handling, storage and shipment.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment demonstrating features of the present invention, there is provided a knock down furniture assembly which includes a main body section, leg sections and a brace section, the leg sections each including offset securement parts and being adapted to be dependingly supported from the main body section in an assembled position. The brace secice tion is adapted to bridge the leg sections between the main body section in the assembled position. Channel members are secured to or formed integrally with the main body section and arranged to provide bearing means which laterally receive the securement parts of the leg sections and mount the respective leg sections for pivotal move ment from assembly positions to assembled positions. The channel members are further formed to engage the leg sections when in the assembled positions to lock the leg sections against displacement. The arrangement is such that by simple manual manipulation and attachment of the brace section, the several sections are connected together to form a piece of furniture; and by an equally simple manual manipulation, involving the release of the brace section, the several sections are dismantled to form a compact unit. i

To advantage, the leg sections, the brace section and the channel members may be packaged as a. kit for shipment to a consumer for final assembly with a main body section, such as a table or stool top. 1

The above brief description, as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be best appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of a presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative form of the invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an inverted, exploded assembly view of a knock down stool assembly demonstrating features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an inverted perspective view of the stool shown in Fig. 1 when assembled; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view, showing the details of the releasable interconnection between the leg sections and the main body section of the stool, the left-hand leg section being shown in the assembled position and the right-hand section being shown in an assembly position. i

Preliminary to a detailed reference to the drawing, which relates specifically to the construction of stools in accordance with the present invention, it is to be again stressed that the structures to be described find applica tion in the assembly of various articles of furniture, such as tables, chairs, benches, as well as in the uniting of other types of prefabricated units.

Referring now specifically to Fig. 1, there is shown a multiple-part stool assembly 10, which includes a top or seat sections 12, leg sections 14, 16, a brace section 18 and channel members 20, 22. The individual components of the stool assembly maybe fabricated of any appropriate materials. For example, the stool seat or top may be of wood or metal, with or without a padded covering, the leg and brace sections 14, 16, 18 may be of wrought metal with appropriate welds, and the channel members 20, 22 may be of sheet metal.

In the illustrative embodiment, the top or seat section 12, is illustrated as a circular metal plate24 having an integral depending annular skirt 26. The channel members 20, 22 are secured to the undersurface of the plate 24 in spaced parallel relation by rivets, screws or welding, while an appropriate cover, not shown, is formed about the seat section 12. t t

The leg sections 14, 16 are completely similanin construction and are interchangeablein theassembly. Accordingly, it will suffice to describe only one of the leg sections in detail. Specifically, the leg section 14 includes converging legs 28, 30 joined together adjacent to and spaced from their lower ends by a transverse cross bar 32 and adjacent the upper ends by a transverse cross bar 34. Below the lower cross bar 32, the legs 28, 30 are formed with parallel terminal parts 36, 38. Adjacent the cross bar 34, the leg sections 28, 30 are formed with offset and L-shaped securement parts 40, 42 which extend substantially at right angles to the cross bar 34 and to the legs 28, 30. One leg 40a, 42a of each of the securement parts 40, 42 serve as a keeper for the associate leg;section, the respective legs 40a, 42a extending in substantial parallel relation; and the other legs 40b, 42b being in substantial end to end alignment.

The brace section 18 which may serve as a footrest, includes opposed pairs of brace members 44, 46 and 48, 50 joined to-form a substantially square framework. At the respective corners of the bracing framework formed by the elements 44, 46, 48, 50 are upstanding sleeves 52 which are arrangedtoembrace the parallel terminal end or feet 36, 38of the respective leg sections 14, 16. vAs will appear from inspection of Fig. 2, the brace bars 48, 50 overlie and abut the cross-bars 32 of the leg sections 14, 16, and in this position the embracing sleeves 50 term'inate short of the ends of the terminal parts 36, 33. Thus, appropriate tips of rubber, plastic or an ornate metal may be applied over the ends of the terminal parts 36, 38, one such tip being shown in Fig. 2 and designated by the numeral 54. The U-shaped channel members 20, 22 which are-perfectly fabricated of sheet metal 10, are completely similar in construction and interchangeable, and accordingly only one will be described in detail. Specifically, the channel member 20 includes opposed and parallel side walls 56, 58 joined together by a connecting bight 60 to define a longitudinal channel 62.

At one end, the side wall 58 is formed with a circular opening 64 serving as a bearing for a pivot pin of one of the leg sections and at the opposite end the side wall 58 is formed with a circular opening 66 serving as a bearing for a pivot pin of the other of the leg sections. Opposite the bearing opening 64 the side wall 58 is cut away, as indicated by the numeral 68, and opposite the bearing opening 66 the side wall 56 is cut away, as indicated by the numeral 70. Spaced inwardly of the bearing opening 64 and the cut away 70, the wall 56 is formed with seating cutouts 72, 74 which receive end portions of the cross-bars 34 when in the assembled position, as illustrated to the left in Fig. 3. In initially securing the channel members 20, 22 to the undersurface of the main body section, the bearing 66 of the respective members are arranged to receive aligned legs 40b, 42b of the leg sections 34 in response to lateral insertion along a path coextensive with the axes of the openings 66 and through the adjacent cutouts 70.

A typical assembly will be described in detail to facilitate a more thorough understanding of the present invention:

The dismantled parts are removed from the shipping carton. If the brackets or fixtures 20, 22 are not secured to'the main body section 12, as when it is to be supplied by the consumer, the brackets 20, 22 are secured to the main body section as illustrated. Thereupon, the main body section is placed on a supporting surface with its top uppermost. One of the leg sections, for example, the leg section 14, is brought into the relative position shown in Fig. 3 and in the aligned legs 4%, 42b which serve as pivot pins are inserted into the bearing opening 66. Insertion is achieved by displacing the leg section 14 laterally in relation to the brackets 20, 22 and through a predetermined thrust, whereupon the legs 40a, 42a are in substantial alignment with the respective channels 62. Thereupon, the leg section 14 is swung in the counterclockwise direction until the cross bar 34 is seated within the aligned cutouts 74. The assembled position for the leg section 16 is the same as the assembled position shown for the leg section 16 at the left of Fig. 3. After assembly of the leg sections 14, 16, the brace section 18 is inserted over the parallel terminal parts 36, 38 and brought into the position wherein the brace bars 48, 50 lie flush against and contact the brace bars 34 0f the leg sections. The assembly is completed by inserting tips 54 on the four terminal parts of the leg sections.

The dismantling operation is equally simple and merely requires the removal of the tips 54, release of the shelf or brace section 18, and disengagement of the respective leg sections 14, 16.

Although the brace section 18 is shown including sleeves 52, which embrace the terminal parts 36, 38 of the leg sections, it is within the contemplation of the invention to employ a brace section of the type shown and described in the aforementioned copending application.

By a consideration of the illustrative embodiment of the invention, it will be seen that there has been provided a knock down furniture assembly, specifically a stool, which may be assembled and dismantled with equal simplicity. Both the assembly and dismantling operations do not require the use of tools. When once assembled, the several parts cooperate to provide a rattle-proof unit, which for all intents and purposes may be considered as a unitary structure.

Numerous modifications are intended within the spirit and scope of the instant disclosure. Accordingly, the appended claim should be interpreted in a manner consistent with the disclosure herein, and in some instances certain features of the invention will be used without a corresponding use of other features.

What I claim is:

For use in the construction of knockdown furniture assemblies including a main body section, leg sections and a brace section, said leg sections each including an L-shaped securement part and being dependingly supported from said main body section in an assembled position, said brace section bridging said leg sections beneath said main body section in said assembled position, at least a pair of assembly brackets secured to said main body section, each of said assembly brackets including opposed members defining a channel, one of said members being formed with an opening for the insertion therein of one leg of an L-shaped securement part whereby the other leg of the L-shaped securement part may be brought into alignment with said channel, said one leg and opening mounting the associated leg section for swinging movement to an assembled position wherein said other leg of said L-shaped securement part is confined within said channel, the other of said members being cutaway opposite said opening whereby said one leg may be inserted in'said opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 384,887 Brott June 19, 1888 2,568,622 Hagan Sept. 18, 1951 2,633,899 Armstrong Apr. 7, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 237,065 Germany July 20, 1911 699,935 Great Britain Nov. 18, 1953 

